Dynamic damper



R. CHILTON 2,484,073

DYNAMIC DAMPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 3, 1945 @2 4 f /ee m 5@ #fgl MIIB I N VEN TOR.

WMS

ATTDRNEY 'RDLAND CHILTDN.

Oct. 11, 1949. R. CHILTON 2,484,073

A DYNAMIC DAMFER Filed May 3, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTRNEY CILAND CHILTCI N.

Patented Oct. 11, 1949 DYNAMIC DAMPER *i'Ro1and CILton; Ridgewood, lN. J assignor.'l to :WrightzAeronantcal Corporation, a corpora,-

wtion of; NewfYork Applicatio'MaylB, 1945, Serial N0 ."591,7S2

vThis-'-invention\ relates" `to` centrifugal-1 bpendulums for damping vibrations and is particularly di-reotedl to-y improvements in'iifibration" damping -meansfoflthe'typeillustrated in ymy*prioiePatent 02'- 2, lll 2,1984.

lSaid: priorpatent vdisclosesy a-devicev for xdamp- =-ing'-torsionall vibrations' of a `crankshaft. This "'dam'pingdevice is now-commonly known c as a dynamic-dampenfand'is now in general -use-on aircraft engines. -"As disclosedr irr this `priorqeat- -ent,= a crankshaftfcounterweight"ist'mounted on 1 arla-teralcrankshaftextension l-for pendularmovementI "with f respect thereto. The counterwei'ght 'support comprises ag'pair` i ofrspacedmrollers"disposed 'holeshaving a diameter larger than-*that of said rollersand formed-inlboth-5aid crankshaft extension and said A'counterweightg'- whereby kSaid 'holes fprovidemylindrical' tracks for 'ther0liers forsupporting'the'counterweight againsttthe cen- `-trifugalforcesacting thereon during crankshaft f'rotation. "i Withfllthis" construction",-"the v'counter- -Weight-has a renziular"lor-"iilarv support andpcornprises aeentriugal pendulumrwith theproperties of a:--si1nple'pendulumhavingl a ,length equal* to #the differenceV inf-diameter between -said"` rollers and-holes.

ith this -prior art construction;l the counterweight-f is designed-to neutralize; torsional Vibraytions ortheengine crankshaft." It has been found 'that "engine "crankshaftszmayf also besubject to bending vihrationgwhichtend to cause Vibrations "off-the counterweight in a-,direction'parallel to'the axisof-'rthe 'crankshaft Such Vibrations are ysometimesreferred to 1 as cOuHterWeightlap since theyI deflect Athe counterWeght/from its norlmal 'pi-ane oferotation. Y Shouldtthese crankshaft lbending Vibrations;become-'synchronous withthe natural vibration frequency of the counterweiight fin this axialldirec'tion;v failure offthe crankshaft, particularly V#of f the l--fcounterweigl'lt 4supporting istructuregf-may ffoccur. iAlsofisincef the counter- -weight `and ycrankshaft extension@ are '"-providfed `with@sornefasial clearance/,f axial vibrations-of the counterweight Willzcause sliding ofithe counter- :weight-v rollers :relative totheirf tracksfther'eby causing--Wearx and -scuiiingtoirfthewroll-ers and/or their; tracks. i Accordingly, the-primed objectf-of Ythistintention issto provide. a fdynamc'idam-per 'haringnovel means lforipre-ventingrsuclrroller and track gcufng 'andsuch -crankshaftfailures ai At'zthisspoint it should bemotedithatithezphrase -fpartiecylindrieai :.surfac'ee vor fffparti-cylindrical .ftrackf-.fas hereinafter: used: `lin; lthe` `rspe'ciiieation and? (claims, refers: toxtheisegmentmf? therzsur-fface 'of a'y 'cylinder cut 'niby aiplanevpassingfthrough saidzgcylinderusubstantially'.parallelu to titsraxis.

:It-fisz/known'thatj iigthe largelmassfo .thenoun- -tenweight isi supportedfiwith axial: freedonr'sofias not -tpartakefof :theraxialryihrationsiotzthe shaft, then the naturalafrequencyfofnthe systemcwillfbe greatly increased, thereby in many cases, raising this objectionable natural or resonant frequency .beyondthevfrequency range of the crankshaft flap vibrations occurring within the operating speed range ofthe engine. Also, it is known that if the suspension of the counterWeight--should give `it avnatulral frequency in the axial direction tuned to the order (frequencyper revolution) 'of Ythe axial crankshaftvibration, this vibration will be neutralized-e. g. attention isdirected to my .priorriBa-tentsNo. y2;-1=16','861 and 2312-15950Jf-l1he :present :invention provides a--simple= structure .which will achieve3these-results1while affording a irictionless f..counterweight:A suspensionfofif-high high: centrifugal `loadsu involved.

iff-Poi this end,A inner :and outer. `roller trackmemyherstare.:siitted rigidly tolthe counterweight and the crankshaftrespectively. Y One- 'of tthese mem-L @bers-.faces the-otherlancteach:trackmember prefei-'ably'.V sub-tends substantially the entire-y Aaxial :,Wid'tlr ofI the counterweight assembly. f f The :tracks nomprisef Lcarticylindrical: -surfaces-facingeeach :other1 and adapt-ed -to-receive therebetweenroller 'means of-ly the:appropriateesmaller diameter. -It .=y"/il`l xhe :seen that in this` structurethe-length -of the rolling Contactavailablevonl each- -tracle memberfiswirtually ytheentire f Width of the' crankl'shait-coui-iter-Weight-assembly;being muchmcre tharLi-in fthe Dstructures Lof` my lorioriPatentsfA No. 2,451615861-and112,121g950. Irr--=fact,- a'- conventional roller as illustrated in my prior Patent No? 2,112,- 984-wou1dfhavefgreatercapacityin-thisnewrstructurefto -proridewforf-axial'vibration of the' counlterweight, that llis, vibration normalv -tol its:plane 'f-rotatiorLf-the rollers Yherein' are -sub`divided-to :comprise a-numher 'of f discs (10in-`the-exampleof the 'idra'winglh and thev-iperipher-ies "of theseL discs are eachw-forrn'edw-ith acrowned profile which per-'mits-them-to^rockaxiallyasDwell-aste roll-in -theplane of rotation. ItI Wi11=be `seen' thatiif `the 'crowned `profile --radiusf of Ieach vroller element or ydisch-loe madewgreaterfthanfone Ahalf fthe i roller diameter?'then theeounterWeight-Will be-inraxial stable equilibrium relative to *the cranksl'raft;`A un -der theeentrifuga-lf force acting-on the counter'- Vlweight,:andithe natural axialL frequencyof-lthe rcounterweight A :can l-be varied by 'VaryingL the dimension. of @thev crownl-radius-softhat -'hyfsuitaole selection 1 of this aradius; rthe: counterweight-may bel-.tunedV to agit/'enj order -of axial vibration. 11n any event; I this counterweightsuspension i gives lthex -icounterweight- `axial freedom# whereby the natural fflapiorffaxialfrequency 'of -the crankshaft: system-mayffbefincreased 'T'It will#A be seen :thatithefactionfy of the-individual rol-lerdiscs-un- .der relative #axial `motion is a rolling -contact with ithettrack memberspas distinct-from Itlfiefsliding -actioni which wouldf'occur with conventional-roll- :ers-asrnylPatentNo.r 251125984. f Thisy rolling yac ing stresses engendered in the roller in the con! Ventional structure just cited. This further in-v creases the centrifugal load capacity of the counterweight suspension system of thepresent invention.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading the annexed detailed description in connection with the drawing inY which:

Figure l is an end view of a crankshaft counterweight supported in accordan-ce with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View partly in section taken along line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a further enlargement of a portion of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken along line 4 4 of Figure 3,' and Figure 5 is a perspective View of the composite roller and track assembly.

Referring to the drawing, a crankcheek Hl having a crankshaft journal l2 may be clamped by a bolt I4 to a crankshaft crankpin I6. This is a Vconventional crankshaft construction for a radial cylinder aircraft engine. The crankcheek l0 is provided with an extension I8 on the opposite side of the crankshaft axis from the crankpin I6. A counterweight adapted to be disposed about the extension I8 and supported therefrom comprises a pair of side plates 22 and 24 secured together by bolts 26 or other suitable securing means. ,The extension I8 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel bores 28 having their axes parallel to the crankshaft axis and each counterweight side plate is provided with a similarly-spaced pair of parallel bores 30, also having their axes parallel to the crankshaft axis. The arrangement is such that a roller assembly is adapted to be disposed within each set of bores 28 and 35 to provide a pendular bi-lar support for the counterweight 20 from the crankshaft extension I8.

AEach said roller assembly comprises a pair of hardened steel members 36 and 38 respectively having parti-cylindrical tracks 40 and 42 of equal radius R and adapted t0 be supported with their parti-cylindrical tracks facing each other. The member 36 is provided with outer parti-cylindrical end surfaces 44 and 46 to be received and seated within the bores 30 within the counterweight plates 22 and 24 respectively. The member 36 also has a raised intermediate outer surface 48 providing shoulders 50 and 52 against .which the counterweight plates 22 and 24 are adapted to be clamped when they are secured together by the bolts 26. In addition, at the shoulder. 52, the member 36 is provided with a laterally-extending flange 54 which is adapted to be received within a correspondingly-shaped channel in the counterweight plate 24. In this way, the member 36 is secured against a'xial and rotative movement relative to the counterweight 270. The hardened steel member 38 is provided with a pair of spaced flanges 56 and 58 adapted to -be received within correspondingly-shaped channels in the sides of the crankshaft extension I8. Each of said members 38 is also provided with an intermediate parti-cylindrical surface 60 seatedwithin its associated bore 28 of the crankshaft extension i8. I n this way, the member 38 is secured against axial and rotatable movement relative to the crankshaft extension I8.

The roller means 62 are disposed between each pair of members 36 and 38 for rolling engagement with their parti-cylindrical tracks 40 and 42. The members 36 and 38 are respectively provided with end flanges 64 and 66 to retain the roller means in lplace -between the tracks 40 and 42. During crankshaft rotation, the centrifugal force acting on the counterweight 20 urges the counterweight outwardly into contact with the surfaces 44 and 46 on each member 36, thereby maintaining engagement between the roller means 62 and their tracks 40 and 42 and maintaining each track member 38 in engagement with its associated bore 28 in the crankshaft extension I8.

Each roller means 62 has a radius r smaller than the radius R of the tracks 48 and 42 as illustrated in Figure 4, whereby the two roller means 62 provide a pendular bi-lar support for the counterweight 2U having a simple pendulum length equal to the difference between the diameter of the roller means 62 and the diameter of the tracks 40 and 42. Because the diameter of the roller means 62 is less than that of the tracks 40 and 42, the members 38 extend through the bores 30 in clearance relation to the counterweight plates 22 and 24 and the members 36 extend through the bores 36 in the crankshaft extension I8 in clearance relation thereto.

With this construction, the members 36 and 38 provide roller tracks 40 and 42 which sub-tend substantially the entire width of the counterweight structure. In this way, the members 36 and 38 provide a roller track contact area which is greater than the conventional structure such as illustrated in my prior Patent No. 2,112,984. This feature is quite important, particularly in modern aircraft engines because of the large centrifugal forces involved. Also, in said prior patent, the rollers are subject to bending stresses since there the counterweight plates provide parti-cylindrical tracks engaging only the outer ends of the rollers while the crankshaft extension provides parti-cylindrical tracks engaging only intermediate portions of the rollers. However, with the present construction, the roller means 62 are subject only to compression stresses since both the counterweight and the crankshaft extension are provided with tracks 40 and 42 both of which engage the entire length of the roller means 62.

In order to assemble the counterweight and roller structure on the crankshaft, the track members 38 are flrst inserted and mountedln the bores 28 on the crankshaft extension I8, the flanges 56 and 58 being short enough in length to permit this. Then, the roller means 62 and the other track members 36 are disposed in place and the counterweight plates 22 and 24 are secured thereabout, as illustrated, by bolts 26.

At this point, it should be noted that the invention obviously is not limited to the aforedescribed specific construction of the track members 36 and 38. Thus, these members may be differently constructed and still provide two pairs of facing parti-cylindrical tracks for the rollers sub-tending substantially the entire width of the counterweight assembly with one track member of each pair carried by the crankshaft extension in clearance relation with the counterweight, and with the other track member of each pair carried by the counterweight in clearance relaE tion with the crankshaft extension. E

egresos-a? illustrated, eaenrcllermeans comprises a plurality cffrol-l'er discs 628' and each roller disc preferablyA is` providedwith a crowned -proiiletofacilitate axial vibrationor thecounterweight 20'. To this end', aclearance HJi is provided between crankshaft extension' liel andthe counterweight plates 2-'21 and- Z-li and-- asma-ll-v clearance (not shown)- is necessaryl between the tota-1V lengt-h" -of alli theI rol-ler' discs ES* and the distance between the flanges- Gff or flanges 5E?. For reasons oficiar-- ity, the clearancehas been greatly exaggerated? on the drawing. Witlr this construction, theroller discs 68' canroll= in4 the tracks- 40? and l2-in the-plane of'rota-tionof' th-te counter-weight 2-0 and inaddition, the'- rol-ler discs can rock axiallyrela-- tive to this-'plane-of'rotatien. Accordingly, axial vibration-off the counterweight 2U results inaxial rockingmovementof therollerl discs instead of the sliding movement or' the rollers of' the con*- venticrral prior art construction, thereby eliminating theaforementioned scuingandwear of` therollersand/ or roller tracks. In addition, by givingtl'ie counterweight someaxial freedom relativeto the crankshaft, the natural frequency of bending' vibrationsl of-` chte crankshaft system will bei'ncreased and, in-some'cases; .this increase will raise the nat-ural bending frequency beyondthe frequency of thecrankshaft bending vibrations encountered within the operating speed range of thecrankshaft, f thereby avoiding resonance;

l Pisillustrated, the crowned: profile of' the roller discs is''circular-withv a radius 1" larger than the radius r ofl eachroller disc. In this way, any rocking of` the roller discs from .their positions paralleli to the plane of rotation of the counterwei'ght' if??1 will move the counterweight' inwardIy against the centrifugal*forcesactingon the coun-v terweight, :thereby providingthe counterweight with astablecentral'- position from which' the counterwei'ght can swing axially asa pendulum.

Bysuitable selection of the magnitude of: the`v crowned circular radius r', the counterweight can be provi-ded wit-hanyA desired natural frequency of vibration in an axial direction. Accordingly, by selection of the radius 1", the counterweight may be tuned. todampencrankshaft bending vibrations of a particular frequency per. crankshatl revolution...

At this point, 'i't shoul'dbe notedthatthe roller prof-mafias used in the specication and claims;V is intended to designatethe. contour of the contactsiuface oftheroller as Viewededgewise'.

While I have described my invention in detail in its present preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, :after understanding my invention, that various changes `and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I aim in the appended claims to cover all such modiiications.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a shaft member, a counterweight member, said members having similar but facing parti-cylindrical tracks 'parallel to the axis of said shaft member, and a lplurality -of disc-like rollers disposed between said tracks, each of said rollers `having a radius smaller than that of said tracks.

2. In combination, a shaft member, a counterweight member, said members having similar but facing parti-cylindrical tracks parallel to the axis of said shaft member, and a plurality of disc-like rollers disposed between said tracks, each of said rollers having a radius smaller than that of said tracks :and having a crowned prole.

3. Inccmbination; a shaft member, a' counter weightmember, said members having similar' but facing parti-cylindrical tracksparallel! tof thev axis of`said shaft member, and' a plurality of' disc-like rollers disposed between saidl tracks, each of said rollers having-'a radius smaller thanthati-ofsaidl tracks and having a crowned circular profile of.-v larger' radiusl than the roller` radius labout the roller' axis.

4e. In combination, ashait, a member carried: and? extending later-ally from said: shaft, a; counterweight member disposed: adjacent saidu extending member,l eachof saidl membersbeing; 'provided with simil'arbut facingarcuate tracks, said tracks each sub-tending substantially the combinede widtllr-of said'I members, and a plurality` of' side-by-side disc-like rollers disposed between said tracks andi rollable thereon, said disc-like. rollers each having `acrowned profile.

5. In combination, a shaft, a-member carriedlby and extending la erally fromi shaft, a counterweightmember disposedi adi acerrt saldi extend'- ing' member, apair of' elements eachcarried by a diif'erent'oneiof said members and projecting intoan opening iin the other ofisaid members in clear*- a-nce relation thereto@ said-1 elements having simi;- lar' butl facing partiecylindricalf track-s andl roller" mea-ns disposedbetween said tracks hav-inga radius smaller than that ofsai'd tracks, said roller meansl compris-ing a` plurality of disc-like roll'ers each having a crowned profile:

6; Irr combination, a--sha-ft member; aI counter-- weight member disposedl adiiacent said'` shaftmember, a pali` off elements-each carriedby a' di'ierent one of saidmembers in'- clearance relation` with' the other of said members, saidi ele'- ments 4each sub-tending substantially the combinedl Widtlicisaid members and each having apartir-cylindrical track similar toa-nd facing thetrack on the other ofsaid elements, and roller means disnosed between said: tracks having va ra'- dius smaller than that of said tracks.

7. In combination, ya sha-ft', a member carried by andil extending laterally from said shaft, a counter-weight mem-ber disposed adjacent said* extending member, a pa-ir ofelements each car'- riedl :by af difieren-t one off said members in clearance relationwith the other ofsa-id members, Ysaid elementse'ach sub-tending substantially the combined width of said members and eachL having apartiecylindificalltrack similar` to andfacing; the

on the other" of said elements; `and roller' means disposed between said tracks having a radius smaller than that of said tracks, said r-oller means comprising a plurality of side-by-side disclike rollers each having a crown-ed profile.

8. In combination, a shaft member, a counterweight member disposed adjacent said shaft member, a pair of elements each carried by a different one of said members in clearance relation with the other of said members, said elements each sub-tending substantially the combined width of said members and each having a particylindrical track similar to but facing the track on the other of said elements, and roller means olisposed between said tracks having a radius smaller than that of said tracks, said roller means comprising a plurality of side-by-side disc-like rollers each having a -circular crowned profile of larger radius than that of said rollers.

9. In combination, a shaft member, a counterweight member, means providing a pendular bilar suspension of said counterweight member from said shaft member, said means comprising two pairs of facing arcuate tracks disposed par- Y 7 allel to the axis vof said shaft member, one track of each pair being carried by one of said members and the other track of said pair being carried by the other of said members, and a plurality of substantially parallel side-by-side disc-like rollers disposed between each pair of said tracks for rolling action thereon.

10. In combination, a shaft member, a counter weight member disposed adjacent said shaft member, and a pair of means-providing a pendular bi-fllar suspension of said counterweight member from said shaft member, each of saidV means comprising a -pair of' elements each carried by a different one of said members and projecting at least Vpartly across the other of said members in clearance relation thereto, said Velements each having a parti-cylindrical track similar to but facing the track on the other of said elements, and rollei means disposed between said tracks having a radius smaller than that of said tracks.

11. In combination, a shaft member, a counterweight member, and a pair of means providing a pendular bi-ilar suspension of said counterweight member from said shaft member, each of said means comprisingr a pair of elements each carried by a different one of said members, said elements each having a parti-cylindrical sur- Y face disposed parallel to the axis of said shaft member and facing the corresponding surface on the other of said elements, and a plurality of side-by-side disc-like Vrollers disposed between said two cylindrical surfaces, each of said rol- 1ers having a radius smaller than that of said surfaces and each having a crowned profile.

12. In combination, a shaft member, a countei Weight member, and a pair of means providing a pendular bi-iilar suspension of said ,counter-v weight member from said shaft member, each of said means comprising a pair of elements each carried by a different one of said members, said elements each having a parti-cylindrical surface Ydis-poseclvparallel to the axis of said shaft member and -facing the corresponding surface on the other of said elements, and a plurality of side-by-side disc-like rollers disposed between said surfaces, each of said rollers having a radius smaller than that ofsaid surfaces, each of said rollers also having a circular crowned profile of a radius larger than the roller radius about the roller axis,

13. In combination, a shaft member, a counter- Weight member, each of said members having an arcuate track facing an arcuate track on the other of said members and disposed parallel to the axis of said shaft` member, and aA plurality of side-byside disc-like rollersrdisposed between` said two tracks for rolling action'thereon. n

14. In` combination, a shaft member, a counterweight member, each of said members having an arcuate track facing an arcuate trackv on the other of s aid members and disposed parallel tol the axis of said shaft member, and a plurality of side-by-side disc-like Y rollers disposed between said two tracks for rolling action thereon, each ofA said rollers having a crowned profile. V 15, In combination, a shaft member and .a

- weight member, the one embracing the other, ele-1 ments rigid with respective members and having arcuate tracks disposed 'parallel to the axis ofv said shaft member, and a composite roller engaged between said tracks for rolling action thereonY and comprising a plurality of substantially adjacent discs having crowned profiles. A

16. In combination, a shaft member and a weight member, elements rigid with respective members, each of said elements having a particylindrical track facing the track of the other of said elements, said tracks being disposed parallel to the axis of said shaft member, and a plurality of supporting discs engaged between saidl two tracks for rolling action thereon both circumferentially and axially of said shaft member.

17, In combination, a plurality of discs comprising a composite cylinder, each of said discs having a crowned profile, a pair of members each having an arcuate rtrack engaging the sides of said discs opposite to that engaged by the otherv track, and a shaft and a weight to which said members are respectively secured with said tracks disposed parallel to the axis of said shaft.Y

whereby said weight may vibrate both axially and4 circumferentially of the shaftY under rollingr action ,between said crowned profile and said arcuate tracks.

ROLAND CHILTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the vi'ile of this patent:

Y vUNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

